With joy he seized the stolen plate,
His bliss, what tongue can tell;
He wonder’d, gaz’d, till rous’d by fate,
And Annette’s dying knell.
55
He starting, trembel’d at the sound——
Again it struck his ear;
With lightening speed he struck the ground
To save his only dear.
56
In solemn state, Annette was led,
Towards the fatal spot;
All pray’d a blessing on her head,
Her guilt they all forgot.
57
Old Gerard sought in vain to spare
Her life, her destin’d fate;
When Blaisot entered in dispair,
And shew’d the stollen plate.
58
A shout of joy, now rent the sky,
Old Gerard join’d the pair;
Erect they stand, who guilt defy,
The guilty do not dare,